Deborah Vogts's Blog, page 135

Creating Book Trailers

*Taken from a series of articles on the CAN Marketing Blog. 
This week I want to write to you about creating book trailers. Do you make it yourself or hire a professional? How much time and knowledge is required? Is it worth the marketing dollars spent? As usual, I don't have all the answers, but what I can do is tell you what I did and why . . . and then try to explain if it has been worth it.


When I signed on for a three-book series with Zondervan in 2008, I considered various approaches to marketing--one of them whether to create a book trailer. At the time, it seemed like a very "hot" item and many authors were doing them.  I spent hours viewing different book trailers and noted which ones I liked and why, as well as what I didn't care for in others. I also made note of who created the trailer. Let me tell you, there are a lot of lovely trailers out there. And a few of them were created by individuals using iMovie or Windows Movie Maker. How would I ever decide what was best for me? Oh, little engine, this hill looks mighty tall. I don't think I can climb this mountain.
I'd read enough online to know that it would take a great deal of time to make a trailer myself. However, I did have the option of hiring a friend who had been playing with home movies for several years and was interested in doing more. And yes, I'd been warned not to go the cheaper route, but after much thought and study, I decided to work with my friend and create a trailer ourselves. Because neither of us had done anything like this before, there was a major learning curve involved, but it also proved to be a great opportunity for expanding our knowledge.
Chug, chug, chug. I think I can, I think I can.  One of the first things you want to do is envision what you want for a trailer. There are a lot of trailers out there that simply scroll over the book cover while someone tells a brief blurb of the story. There are also those with still shots, those that have been filmed, or a combination of both. There are those that use scrolling words and those that have a speaker.   Before you tackle this project, brainstorm your ideas. I knew I wanted my secondary character, John McCray, to tell the story about his son and the veterinarian who was like a daughter to him. I also had an idea of the music--something heart stirring yet almost forlorn--that reminded me of a horse running across the prairie.  I also knew that I wanted a combination of scrolled words mixed in with the speaker's words, fade-out pictures as well as film. And then came the actual writing of the script--which surprisingly, came to me very quickly.
We filmed part of the trailer ourselves, but there are places online to find free music and pictures. However, most of those places didn't have exactly what we were looking for so we opted to pay a minimal fee to get just the right effect we were looking for.

Free music:http://www.freeplaymusic.com
Music for a fee (and the place we went for our music):http://www.dawnmusic.com
Free photos:http://www.sxc.hu/index.phtmlhttp://www.publicdomain.photos.comhttp://www.wpclipart.com/indexhttp://www.dreamstime.com/free-photoshttp://www.freepixels.com
Royalty free photos (where we went for pictures):http://www.istockphoto.com
The making of the trailer proved to be more of a challenge, mostly because my friend and I were inexperienced. We had many trial runs, a couple where we had to start over from scratch. But the end effect turned out quite beautiful and I am very pleased with it. Check it out at the top of this blog.
Now for the ultimate question--was the marketing dollars worth it in the end? I cannot in all honesty say that it has been that effective. Before my book came out, I had a few opportunities to show the trailer to two test audiences and that may have prompted a few people to order my book. Since then, most of the feedback I've received online has been from people who have read my book and then visited my website afterwards to view the trailer. And they have loved the trailer.
I think this is the answer you'll hear from most authors. We simply have no way to track book trailers to sales. Am I satisfied? -- Yes, I am. I have a beginning trailer for my book series for readers to watch and hopefully prompt them to read the series.
Will I make a trailer for all my books? No. I didn't make one for Seeds of Summer, nor am I planning one for Blades of Autumn. However, if I should get a contract on book 4, I have ideas of creating a trailer that encompasses the entire Seasons of the Tallgrass series. And I think I would consider creating a trailer for the first in any series I write. 
If you don't have the desire to take on the challenge of creating a trailer yourself, here is a list of professionals who create book trailers:
Trailer to the StarsBook Video Production ServicesPulse Point DesignBemis Promotions
Oh, and once you have a book trailer, do your research and take the time to upload your trailer onto your website and/or blog as well as the many different sites available to help promote it, such as: Amazon.com, Youtube.com, Tangle.com and Christianbookvideos.com.
Next week, I'll write about promotional items you might want to invest in. Until then, keep chugging up those hills . . .

Book Drawing ~ The Fire in Ember

The Fire in Ember by DiAnn Mills

Between one woman's life and one man's heart ... a fire burns.

When responsible rancher John Timmons rescues "Bert" Farrar from being hanged as a horse thief, he takes the boy home to work off the debt. But what will John do when he finds out that Bert is really a girl? And will Ember Farrar repay his kindness by stealing his cattle---or his heart?
Twists, turns, and unforgettable characters make this action-packed page-turner a historical romance with fire.
 About DiAnn:
Award-winning author DiAnn Mills launched her career in 1998 with the publication of her first book. Currently she has over fifty books in print and has sold over 1.5 million copies.
DiAnn believes her readers should "Expect an Adventure." She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels.
Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA Bestseller Lists. Her books have won placements through American Christian Fiction Writer's Book of the Year Awards 2003 – 2008 and a Carol Award finalist in 2010. She is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader's Choice award for 2005, 2007, and 2010, a Christy Awards finalist in 2008, a finalist for the RITA Award in 2010, and winner of the Christy Award in 2010.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also a member of the Christian Writer's Guild, Romance Writers of America's Faith, Hope and Love, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is the Craftsman Mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. Visit her website here.

I really enjoyed this latest release by DiAnn. Leave a comment below to enter a chance to win a "gently used" copy of The Fire in Ember. A winner will be drawn on Sunday, July 3.
*Void where prohibited. Open only to US residents. Odds of winning depend on  number of entrants. Comments must be made on this blog. Social network comments are not valid.

Oven Baked Fries

This is one of those mix and dump recipes, but here's my best guess on ingredients.

Oven Baked Fries

6-8 russett potatoes, washed and sliced in wedges
3 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons seasoned salt
1 teaspoon ground pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In medium bowl, combine sliced potato wedges, oil, seasoned salt, and pepper. Tansfer mixture to greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with more seasoned salt and pepper if desired. Bake for 15 minutes. With metal spatula turn potatoes and bake for another 15-20 minutes until potatoes are golden brown and tender. Yum!

The Joys of Life

This summer my husband and I have been enjoying a few music events that our daughters have participated in. Our youngest daughter began guitar lessons at age twelve. Our middle daughter, Maggie, saw how much fun she had and decided to join in. Since then, they've thrived, learning bluegrass, country classics, and tunes by favorite artists The Judds, the Dixie Chicks, and Taylor Swift. 

Singing duet at a local amateur night.

Maggie performing a song she wrote about Bonnie and Clyde. 

Our youngest playing with K-177 Bluegrass at the Emma Chase Friday Night Music in Cottonwood Falls, KS. 

Here again singing Heart of the Wood--an audience favorite at Preaching on the Prairie.
We're looking forward to listening to more from each of them in the weeks ahead. Maybe if we can figure out how, we'll post some music on Youtube for you to enjoy. Enjoy your summer!

Scheduling Author Photos

*Taken from a series of articles on the CAN Marketing Blog. I don't know about you, but having my picture taken is not one of my favorite things to do. And yet, when you have a book contract, it's one of the requirements asked of you by your publisher. There was a time, long ago, when I believed myself somewhat photogenic, but then came the extra pounds, the graying hair, the wrinkles and crows feet--need I go on?So began my journey of trying to determine what I wanted for an author photo. That far off hill looked mighty steep, but I began turning my wheels and chugging up the track. Did I want a formal pose against a basic background, or did I want a more casual look? Inside or outside? Props such as a desk or books? Should I lose weight first? And what should I wear? Is it really important to know which color looks good on me when I have all these other things to worry about?

"Oh little engine, this hill looks mighty tall. I don't think I'll be able to make it up this mountain!"Chug, chug, chug--I kept going, one mile at a time. I didn't have the extra funds to hire an image consultant, but I knew what colors made me feel good--and that's one of the best ways to determine which color season you are and what color palette works for you. Click here for more information on determining your seasonal color. Once I had this figured out, I searched through my closet for the perfect outfit and considered make-up and hairstyles that would give me a natural look, yet call out to people and say "Look at Me--This is who I am." Another step included studying my favorite author sites. What sort of pictures did they use and how many shots did they have taken? Did they hire a professional photographer or do it themselves?If you own a quality camera or know someone who does that has the prowess to take great photos, you can save money doing it yourself. But a professional photographer will understand light and shadow and can also work magic on those little "imperfections" I mentioned earlier, so you might want to keep that in mind as well. No matter what, you'll need to be sure the pictures are taken in high resolution, jpeg, or tiff images, with a 300 dpi or more. All of this jargon seemed foreign to my ears, but not to those in the publishing world.   Loaded with the answers needed to make it up the hill, I managed to get an author photo I'm satisified with. Because I wanted to carry forward my Country at Heart theme, I chose to have my picture taken outside with a wagon wheel prop, wearing a casual jean jacket that helped define who I was as an author. I also chose to go with a professional photographer, and I'm so glad I did, considering the media campaign that has been done on the Internet, newspapers, and magazines. Believe me, when you see your pretty mug staring back at you from so many places, you'll be glad you took the time to figure out exactly what you wanted for an author photo.Next week, we'll move on to the next marketing challenge--creating a book trailer. Until then, enjoy the moments AND keep chugging up those hills  . . .

In Memory of Stephen Bly

Stephen Bly, beloved Christian, western author, passed away earlier this month after a long struggle with cancer. Here is a post I had scheduled for him to help promote his latest release, Throw the Devil Off the Train. 
Finding Love in a Classic Western, by Stephen Bly
"Hmmm. . .a compliment from Mr. Race Hillyard. Should I be suspicious?" "I'd be disappointed if you weren't." Catherine studied the faces in the train car window beside them. "You know, yesterday I held you in deep disgust." "Has that changed?" "Yes, today I hold you in mediocre disdain." From Throw The Devil Off The Train
The kernel plot idea determines how much the love element majors in my westerns. Will women play a significant part at all? If so, how much? Will there be hints or scenes of romance? If so, what portion does it play?
For some western writers, especially those who focus on the romance market, those are big questions. In fact, I would presume that they factor the love interest first thing in their plotting. Me, not so much. If my main character's a woman, which it has been for a number of my novels, then her relationship with the men, or her main man, will be key, of course.
A time or two I've written about strong women who turn down the potential love interest because of other considerations, such as a career (i.e. Miss Fontenot, Book #3, Heroines of the Golden West Series). My fans and a few editors screamed about this. But that was the way Miss Fontenot decided it. I had to respect her wishes.
Then out pops the idea for my new release, Throw The Devil Off The Train. It's a road story inside a train headed west. The grandeur of the West from a train window. The very slow journey, compared to modern transportation, yet cramped, crowded, at times chaotic conditions.
Later, a theme evolved. . .that people are much more complex than first meetings reveal. That hurts and pains, victories and defeats of the past, affect responses in the present. My observation is that most of us hide spiritual and emotional hurts from others. . .and sometimes ourselves. We must be open to what God is doing around us, even through flawed people, to receive the help he sends.
That lead to. . .what if I tossed two cats into a burlap bag, then watched to see how they'd survive. . .or not? This had to be a male and a female. With a long train ride, sparks are going to hit the track. . .somehow, somewhere. Will it be eternal hate or meld into love?
The gal on the train. . .she heads west to escape from her past in Virginia, to a prosperous fiancé in Paradise Springs, a childhood friend. To get a new name. She's desperate that no one knows her real last name.
She can be as honey-sweet as any southern belle, if she wants to. She and her twin sister, Catelynn, spent the war years in the north at an aunt's house. While they missed witnessing the violence and ravages of the Civil War, they lost their parents and their estate. Catherine is not glamorous like her twin sister, but her good looks and confident air capture much attention. She's willing to use her beauty and personality to get things done. . .her way.He travels west to get justice for his brother's death. His blunt, stubborn ways leave no room for charm or diplomacy. Independent, with focused courage, he's in the habit of success at whatever he attempts. His set glare keeps most folks scooting away from him. That suits him fine. He has no use for a woman he considers shallow and manipulative. He also has no fear of dying, because he's not sure he wants to live. When he sets his mind on a goal, he expects everyone to get out of the way.After a few gouges and bites between Catherine Draper and Race Hillyard, I could see the trail markings of their story. That's how I knew Throw The Devil Off The Train was a western romance first, front and center. In fact, my original working title was "Throw Away Heart." But my editor objected. The Bly fans for this publisher look for a western first, romance optional.
Yet a question still remained right up to the end. Will the Miss Fontenot type independence reign? Of course, that's up to Catherine. . .and Race. Romance comes late for them. . .perhaps too late.Yep, they hate each other on sight. Meanwhile, traditional western stuff happens. A holdup, hijack, kidnapping and gold mine swindle swirl around them. . .and something else evil's on board. Fiery, opinionated and quick to react, can they make a truce long enough to throw the devil off the train? Stephen Bly was a Christy Award finalist and winner for westerns for The Long Trail Home, Picture Rock, The Outlaw's Twin Sister and Last of the Texas Camp. He authored and co-authored with his wife, Janet, 105 books, both fiction and nonfiction. He and Janet have 3 married sons, 4 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild and live in the mountains of northern Idaho on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. Find out more about the Blys at their website http://BlyBooks.com or blog http://BlyBooks.blogspot.com

Fudge Brownies (with marshmallows)

Here's a favorite recipe at our house--one we make just about every week. Sometimes I like to change it up by adding marshmallows & chocolate frosting, but they are good plain.





1 1/3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

3/4 cups baking cocoa

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup chopped pecans

2/3 cup canola oil

4 eggs, slightly beaten

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows (optional)

warm chocolate fudge frosting (optional)



Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, salt and nuts. Set aside. In glass measuring bowl combine oil, eggs and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients. Do not overmix. Spread in greased 13x9 baking pan. Bake for 18 minutes. Sprinkle marshmallows over brownie mix. Continue baking for another 5-7 minutes. Let set 10 minutes. Drizzle warm fudge frosting over marshmallow layer and allow to cool. Makes 24 brownies. Super yummy!

Preaching on the Prairie

This past weekend, my youngest daughter and I traveled to the heart of the Flint Hills for an author event near Alta Vista, KS. The Lutheran churches in the area hosted a 150 year celebration of the first circuit rider in this area ~ Preaching on the Prairie.

Despite uncertain weather forecasts, the day turned out beautiful -- cool temperatures and blue skies with a nice, light breeze. Couldn't have asked for better weather.

 The tents were up.

Attendees gathered from miles away. Some dressed for the occasion. 

Some people arrived by horse and buggy.

Music filled the air. Our daughter joined the bluegrass group and sang "Heart of the Wood." 

After the morning service, I signed some books from the Seasons of the Tallgrass series. Stay tuned for more pictures from our visit to the Flint Hills. All-in-all a great day! 

Building a Web Presence

Last week, I went over the first aspect of my marketing journey--creating a marketing budget. This week, I want to cover some ideas for creating a web presence. *Taken from a series of marketing articles on the CAN Marketing Blog.Years ago I used a blog as my author site, and for the most part, was quite happy with it. I'd created a reader base, so it had served me well. When I received my contract from Zondervan in 2008, I found I wanted more. After much deliberation, I decided to design an author website to go along with an updated blog--and so I charged up the giant hill with full steam.I began visiting author sites and kept track of those I liked best, paying attention to colors, layout schemes, page descriptions, and author photos. When I had my list narrowed to four or five, I chugged harder, studying web designer sites and their client portfolios.For learning purposes, some of my favorite designer sites were: pulsepointdesign.com - eagle-designs.com -novelwebsitedesign.com - authorsontheweb.com - xuni.com -authorbytes.com - waxcreative.comFrom there, I requested price quotes. And that's when my little engine started spinning its wheels. Some of the designers were charging over two-thousand dollars--and I'm sure worth every penny, as their client pages were gorgeous! To add to my dilemma, I'd heard it said that your website must look professional--an outward reflection of who you are as an author (or in other words, not cheap & dowdy). Well that's great, if you have the money . . . but this little engine didn't have that kind of money to spend. After all, I had a budget I needed to stay within. "Oh, little engine. That hill looks mighty tall. How will I ever make it up that mountain?"With a deep sigh, I began searching for less expensive alternatives. I considered using an updated blog. Blogs are free, and I already knew how to manage them. But a part of me really wanted a new look. So I set my chin, determined to figure out a way to make it work.That's when I discovered a host design program called Homestead. Several of my author friends used the program and were quite happy with it. I began studying the tutorial and realized that I could indeed create an author site with nearly all the functions I'd requested of the designers--and for a smidgeon of the price.Of course, I would have to design the pages myself--which would take time and challenge my creativity. Fortunately, Homestead's design program has an easy learning curve, and it turned out to be quite fun. Plus, I had the added advantage of being able to update my site whenever I wanted--an option I might not have had if I'd paid for a design. The company also offers a free trial period, which I took advantage of to make sure it was the right fit for my needs. After about 2 weeks, I'd designed a Web site that was a reflection of who I am as an author.So, I went into this venture desiring the best, settling for less, and being quite satisfied with the end result.Now, I know, many of you may not be interested in doing this work yourself, but for those who enjoy the creative aspects of web design (and who are working with a limited budget) this option may be a nice fit for you, too. Next week, we'll move on to the next challenge--publicity photos. Until then, enjoy the moments AND keep chugging up those hills  . . .

Book Drawing ~ The Sweetest Thing

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Sweetest Thing • Bethany House (June 1, 2011) by Elizabeth Musser


Elizabeth Musser, an Atlanta native, studied English and French literature at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. While at Vanderbilt, I had the opportunity to spend a semester in Aix-en-Provence, France. During her Senior year at Vanderbilt, she attended a five-day missions conference for students and discovered an amazing thing: God had missionaries in France, and she felt God calling her there. After graduation, she spent eight months training for the mission field in Chicago, Illinois and then two years serving in a tiny Protestant church in Eastern France where she met her future husband.


Elizabeth lives in southern France with her husband and their two sons. She find her work as a mother, wife, author and missionary filled with challenges and chances to see God's hand at work daily in her life. Inspiration for her novels come both from her experiences growing up in Atlanta as well as through the people she meets in her work in France. Many conversations within her novels are inspired from real-life conversations with skeptics and seekers alike.


Her acclaimed novel, The Swan House, was a Book Sense bestseller list in the Southeast and was selected as one of the top Christian books for 2001 by Amazon's editors. Searching for Eternity is her sixth novel.


ABOUT THE BOOK
Compelling Southern Novel Explores Atlanta Society in the 1930s.


The Singleton family's fortunes seem unaffected by the Great Depression, and Perri—along with the other girls at Atlanta's elite Washington Seminary—lives a life of tea dances with college boys and matinees at the cinema. When tragedy strikes, Perri is confronted with a world far different from the one she has always known.


At the insistence of her parents, Mary 'Dobbs' Dillard, the daughter of an itinerant preacher, is sent from inner-city Chicago to live with her aunt and attend Washington Seminary. Dobbs, passionate, fiercely individualistic and deeply religious, enters Washington Seminary as a bull in a china shop and shocks the girls with her frank talk about poverty and her stories of revival on the road. Her arrival intersects at the point of Perri's ultimate crisis, and the tragedy forges an unlikely friendship.


The Sweetest Thing tells the story of two remarkable young women—opposites in every way—fighting for the same goal: surviving tumultuous change. Just as the Great Depression collides disastrously with Perri's well-ordered life, friendship blossoms--a friendship that will be tested by jealousy, betrayal, and family secrets... If you would like to read the first chapter of The Sweetest Thing, go HERE.


To enter this week's book drawing for The Sweetest Thing, please leave a comment below. A winner will be selected on Sunday, June 19. 
*Void where prohibited. Open only to US residents. Odds of winning depend on number of entrants. Comments must be left on this blog. Social network comments are not valid.